Protective cushion for a sailboat boom

ABSTRACT

A cushion for the boom of a sailboat including at least one preformed sleeve or flexible wrap of a soft resilient material which is configured to overly at least the entire opposite side portions of the boom along substantially the entire length thereof, and fasteners for selectively removably mounting the cushion on the boom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is generally directed to safety devices which may beutilized on boats and particularly boats of the sailboat type whichinclude a boom to which the foot of a mainsail is secured. Morespecifically, the present invention is directed to a protective cushionincluding a body portion having one or more sections which areconstructed of a relatively soft and resilient material which bodysection or sections may be removably mounted to substantially cover orenclose the boom. In some embodiments, fastening elements are utilizedto secure the body portion or sections directly to the boom whereas inother embodiments, fastening elements are utilized to secure the bodyportion to itself in a generally encircled relationship with respect tothe boom.

2. History of the Related Art

The mainsail of a sailboat is secured along its luff or front edge tothe sailboat mast and is also secured along its lower edge or foot attwo or more points to a boom which extends horizontally outwardly fromthe mast. Generally, the boom extends from its mast end rearwardlytoward the stern where the outer end of the boom is connected by amainsheet which controls the pivotable movement of the boom relative tothe mast. Depending upon wind conditions and the directional or tackingmovement of the sailboat, the mainsheet, which includes a line which isconnected by a pulley to the outer end of the boom, is played in or outto either swing the boom toward the centerline of the boat or to allowthe boom to swing outwardly relative to the sides of the boat.

The height of the boom relative to the deck may vary and in somesailboats is adjustable. Often, however, the boom is positionedsufficient close to the deck that it becomes necessary for individualson the deck to crouch or duck under the boom as it swings from port tostarboard and from starboard to port. In many instances, the movement ofthe boom is unexpected and so violent that individuals are struck by theboom and seriously injured.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,235 to Hodges, an external rail system for boatsis disclosed which incorporates strips of polyethylene closed cell foamwhich are adhesively secured to various portions of the boat hull, bow,stern, and boom. The patent teaches applying rails formed of the foamcovered with a skin of woven fabric at the 3:00, 4:30, 7:30, and 9:00positions of a booms surface. The polyethylene rails along the boom aremolded of a low density polyethylene foam and are provided to reduce thepossibility of injury to a person in the event the boom unexpectedlycontacts the head of an individual as the boom swings relative to thedeck of the sailboat.

Unfortunately, the rails applied to the boom disclosed in theaforementioned United States Patent do not provide sufficient resilienceor padding along the entire side surfaces of the boom. In addition, thepolyethylene material exhibits sufficient rigidity that, in the eventthe boom violently contacted an individual, injury could still occur.Also, the sails must be permanently attached to the boom and manyindividuals would not place permanent strips on their boom as the stripsor rails affect the aesthetic appearance of the sailboat.

In view of the foregoing, there remains a serious risk which is assumedby individuals when sailing which risk is heightened for individuals whoare not familiar with the characteristics of the boom movement of asailboat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a cushion for the boom of asailboat and in the preferred embodiment includes at least one preformedsleeve or flexible wrap of relatively soft resilient material whereinthe body portion of the cushion is defined having opposite ends andopposing sides. The body of the cushion is removably mounted and securedusing various fasteners in such a manner that the cushion substantiallyencircles the boom along a substantial portion of its length.

The cushion is preferably coated or covered on at least the exteriorsurface with a water-resistant layer. A padded type cushion may also beformed of a fibrous type material which is resilient so as to assume anoriginal configuration after yielding upon impact with an individual orother object.

In some embodiments, strips of a hook and loop fabric fastening materialare used which may be applied along the upper, side or lower portions ofthe boom with the body portion of the cushion including mating hook andloop fastening strips. The cushion may be formed in two sections whichare secured with the fastening materials along the opposite sides of theboom using fastening materials on each section.

In some embodiments, the cushion may include one or more openings toallow for the passage of rigging which is connected along the length ofthe boom.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a protectivecushion which may be removable secured in one or more sections along thelength of a boom of a sailboat in order to reduce the possibility ofphysical injury to individuals brought about by the violent movement orswinging action of the boom.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide aprotective cushion for use with sailboat booms which includes a softresilient body which yields so as to absorb the energy of an impact toprevent physical injury to individuals and which is formed of a materialwhich assumes it original shape following impact.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a protectivecushion for use in covering the boom of a sailboat which may be easilymounted thereto without requiring any modifications to the boom andwhich includes fastening elements for securing the cushion insubstantially encircling relationship with respect to the boom along asubstantial portion thereof.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide aprotective cushion for sailboat booms which includes preformed resilientmembers which may be secured to the boom by applying an adhesive or hookand loop fabric type fastening material along portions of the boomlength which material cooperates with similar fastening materialsmounted to the cushion, whereby the preformed members may be easilymounted without interfering with the rigging normally associated withthe boom.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a protectiveresilient cushion for sailboat booms which, in one embodiment, can berolled upon itself for compact storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrational view of a sailboat having acushion applied along the length of the boom in accordance with theteachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective enlarged view of the boom shown in FIG. 1showing, in greater detail, a first embodiment of the present inventionmounted to the boom;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through a boom having a generallyrectangular cross-sectional configuration showing a second embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the boom of FIG. 5 having hook and loopfastening materials mounted thereto;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view having portions broken away showing theinner face of one section of cushion as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the inner face of anotherembodiment of the present invention wherein the cushion sections areformed in generally semi-circular cross-sectional configuration;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 5 wherein thecushion body sections shown in FIG. 8 are mounted on opposing sides of aboom having a generally circular cross section;

FIG. 10 is a perspective illustrational view of another embodiment ofthe present invention wherein the cushion is formed of a relativelyflexible resilient sheet which is secured along the length of the boomby mating fastening materials;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along 11--11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view having portions broken away, of theflexible resilient cushion shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an illustrational view of the embodiment of FIG. 12 beingrolled into a compact configuration;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a boom covered with another embodimentof protective cushion constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthe present invention;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view taken along line 15--15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 16--16 ofFIG. 14; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective assembly view showing one cushion element ofthe embodiment of FIG. 14 and a portion of the boom having a fasteningmaterial applied thereto in accordance with the teachings of theembodiment of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With continued reference to the drawing figures, a sailboat 10 is shownwhich includes a foredeck 11, an aftdeck 12 and a stern 13. A mast 14extends upwardly from the sailboat to which is secured the luff or frontedge 15 of a mainsail 16. The foot or lower edge 18 of the sail issecured by a plurality of tie lines 19 which extend through grommets 20which are spaced along the foot of the sail to boom 22 intermediate thetack 23 and the clew 24.

The boom is pivotable with respect to the mast so as to allow the sailangle to change relative thereto depending upon wind direction and thedirection of tacking of the sailboat. The pivotable movement of the boomis controlled by a mainsheet 25 which is connected to a traveller 26slideable along a guide 27 secured adjacent the stern of the boat. Theforward portion of the boom is stabilized and guided by a boom vang 28which is secured at the base of the mast and to a vang hook 29 extendingfrom the bottom of the boom. By playing the line of the mainsheet 25 inand out, the outer end of the boom is caused to pivot from side to siderelative to the sailboat.

It should be noted that the boom structure on sailboats varies and, insome instances, the foot of the mainsail is only secured to the boom atthe tack 23 and clew 24. In other instances, as opposed to having tielines for securing the foot of the mainsail to the boom, the sail may bemounted on brackets 32 which slide along a rail 33 which is mounted toand extends outwardly from the upper portion of the boom, as shown inFIG. 5.

The present invention is provided to prevent injury to individuals onthe sailboat caused by being hit by the boom as it swings relative tothe sailboat. With particular reference to FIGS. 2 through 4, a firstembodiment of the present invention is disclosed. In this embodiment,the boom is provided with a protective cushion 40 which consists of anelongated body portion 41 in the form of an open tubular sleeve having afirst end 42 which is designed to be positioned adjacent the mast and anouter end 43 which is designed to extend to a point adjacent the outerportion of the boom near the clew 24. The body portion further includesopposing elongated sides 44 and 45 which are normally spaced from oneanother by an elongated slot or opening 46. The cushion 40 is preferablyformed of soft resilient material such as a spongy foam rubber. Thematerial may be substantially any material which is capable ofresiliently yielding to absorb a great deal of the impact energy whenthe boom contacts an object including various natural and artificialsoft rubbers, soft foams and various fibrous padding and the like whichare capable of yielding and then re-assuming their originalconfiguration after impact. In the preferred embodiment, the materialshould be a minimum of approximately 3/4 to 1 inch in thickness. Thebody is preferably coated on both the inner and outer surfaces with aflexible or pliable water impermeable layer 47 and 48.

As shown in FIG. 3, the body may be pre-formed in a substantiallyarcuate configuration wherein the inner surface 47 of the body isconcave. Further, to allow the cushion to compatibly engage the lengthof the tapering boom, the body may be formed with a converging radiusfrom the mast or inner end 42 to the outer end 43 thereof relative to anelongated axis A--A defined thereby. In some instances, where the boomstructure is not tapered, the cross section defined by the body of thecushion will remain constant throughout its length.

As opposed to preshaping the cushion with an arcuate configuration, thecushion may be formed of in a sheet-like configuration having relativelyflat front and rear surfaces but which is flexible so as to be wrappedto conform to the outer surface of the boom when attached thereto, asshown in FIGS. 10-13.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 through 4, a plurality of fasteningelements in the form of straps 50 are secured adjacent to the side edge45 by an appropriate adhesive, stitching or hook and loop fasteners. Theinner surface of each strap 50 includes a strip of hook and loopfastening materials 51 which are selectively engageable with matingstrips of hook and loop fastening materials 52 which are adhesivelysecured, stitch or applied by hook and loop fasteners, to the body 41adjacent the elongated side 44 thereof, as shown in FIG. 5. The straps50 are pulled tightly so as to urge the opposing sides 44 and 45 intoclose or contacting relationship to one another, as shown in FIG. 5. Insome instances, due to the structure of the boom, it may be necessary tohave a slight spacing or slot, such as 46, remaining between theelongated sides 44 and 45 to make space for the tie elements whichconnect the foot of the sail to the boom.

In order to allow for the connection of the boom vang 28 with the vanghook 29, an opening 53 is provided through the body portion of thecushion, as shown in FIG. 3.

It should be noted that other types of fasteners may be utilized toconnect or mount the cushion to the boom. For instance, the straps 50may be separately provided and secured by wrapping entirely about thecushion and united together utilizing conventional fastening elementsincluding hook and loop fasteners, buckles or bayonet type fasteners.Also, in addition to forming the body in a single length, it is possiblethat the cushion may be formed with two or more separate body portionseach being secured to the boom along a portion of the length thereof.

With specific reference to FIGS. 5 through 7, a further embodiment ofthe present invention is disclosed in detail. In this embodiment, theboom is shown as being generally rectangular in cross section and isdesignated at 22'. As previously discussed, a rail 33 is mounted alongthe upper surface of the boom to which slidable clips 32 are securedwhich connect the foot of the mainsail to the rail. In this embodiment,the cushion 60 is defined by a pair of opposing body sections 61 and 61'each having a first or mast end 62 and an outer end 63. Each sectionalso includes opposite side edges 64 and 65. As shown in FIG. 7, stripsof hook and loop material 66 and 67 are provided along the length of thesections 61 and 61' adjacent the sides 64 and 65 and along the innersurfaces thereof.

In order to mount the body sections 61 and 61' to the boom, a pair ofstrips of mating hook and loop fabric fastening materials 68 areadhesively secured in spaced relationship to the upper surface of theboom and a pair of parallel strips of hook and loop fastening material69 are mounted in spaced relationship along the lower surface of theboom. The body sections 61 and 61' are mounted so as to completely coverthe opposite sides of the boom, as shown in FIG. 4, by securing each ofthe body sections 61 and 61' to the boom by connecting the strips 64with the strips 68 at the top of the boom and the strips 67 with themating strips 69 on the bottom of the boom.

With specific reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, another embodiment of thepresent invention is disclosed which incorporates features of theprevious two embodiments. In this embodiment, the cushion 70 includes apair of opposing body portions 71 and 71' which have concave facinginner surfaces 72 and upper and lower elongated edges 73 and 74. Eachbody portion is pre-formed so that the two bodies may be brought intoopposing engagement with the boom 22, as shown in FIG. 9. Hook and loopstrips 75 and 76 are provided on the inner surface adjacent each of thesides of each body portion and mate with hook and loop fastening strips78 and 79 applied along the length of the boom. In this embodiment,separate straps such as those shown at 50 may also be utilized to mountthe sections 71 and 71' to the boom.

With continued reference to FIGS. 9-13 of the drawing figures, anotherembodiment of the invention is discussed in greater detail. In thisembodiment, the protective cushion 80 is formed as a sheet of softresilient material having the same characteristics with respect todeformability and impact resistance as discussed above with respect tothe previous embodiments. The cushion includes a body portion 81 havingopposite end portions 82 and 83 and opposite elongated sides 84 and 85.In order to mount the flexible sheet to the boom 22 of a sailboat, theinner surface 86 thereof is provided with a pair of generally parallelstrips of hook and loop type fastening materials 87 and 88 which extendadjacent each of the sides 84 and 85. The width of the body between thesides 84 and 85 is sufficient for the body to be wrapped about the sidesand bottom of the boom, as shown in FIG. 10, thereafter being secured byengagement with a pair of generally parallel hook and loop materialstrips 89 which are adhesively or otherwise secured along the length ofthe upper portion of the boom. In this embodiment, one of the hook andloop fabric strips 87 or 88 is secured to one of the mating strips 89 onthe boom and thereafter the body of the cushion is wrapped about theboom and the other of the hook and loop strips is secured to the otherof the hook and loop fabric strips 89 secured to the boom.

The present embodiment may also be formed of a sheet of soft resilientmaterial which tapers inwardly along its length to thereby conform to atapering boom in much the same manner as discussed with the embodimentshown in FIGS. 1-4. With the present embodiment, the flexible body maybe rolled upon itself, as shown in FIG. 13, and thereafter secured witha hook and loop fastening strap 90 to a mating pad 91 provided on theouter surface adjacent the opposite end 82 of the sheet so that, whennot in use, the cushion may be conveniently and compactly stored.

A further embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in FIGS.14-17. In this embodiment, the protective cushion 92 includes a pair ofopposing generally flexible padded sections 93. Each of the sections 93is made of a soft resilient material similar to the materials previouslydiscussed. Each section includes an upper elongated edge 95 and lowerelongated edge 96 and opposite ends 97 and 98. A single strip of ahook-and-loop or other type of fastening material 99 is secured alongthe inner surface 100. The strip is applied so as to be spaced from boththe upper and lower edges 95 and 96, as is shown in FIG. 17.

To mount the opposing sections 93 to the boom, a pair of matinghook-and-loop or other fastening materials 101 and 102 are applied alongthe length of the boom and on generally opposite sides thereof andslightly above the center line of the boom. When the strips 99associated with each section are engaged with the either one of thestrips 101 or 102, the cushioned sections will hang relative to theengaged strips so that the lower edge of the section is suspended belowthe lower surface of the boom. When it is desired to store theprotective cushion 92, the sections 93 are simply pulled from thereengaging relationship with the strips 101 and 102 boom and thereafterfolded or rolled for storage.

In each of the embodiments of the present invention, it is importantthat at least the outer surface, and preferably both the inner and outersurface, of each body portion or section of the cushion be coated with amoisture impermeable layer. The moisture resistant layer should beflexible so as to yield together with the material forming the body ofthe cushion but provide resistance to moisture seeping into the body ofthe cushion and protect the cushion from destruction from salt water.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the inventionhave been presented to illustrate the principles and not to limit theinvention to the particular embodiments illustrated. It is intended thatthe scope of the invention be defined by all of the embodimentencompassed within the following claims and their equivalence.

I claim:
 1. A protective device for use with a boom on a sailboatwherein the boom includes an outer end and a mast end, upper, lower andopposite side portions, the device comprising, a cushion means having abody portion formed of a soft resiliently yieldable material, said bodyportion having inner and outer surfaces, opposite sides and ends, andfastening means for mounting said body portion in substantiallyencircling relationship about the boom intermediate the outer and mastends thereof.
 2. The protective device of claim 1, in which said bodyportion includes a substantially continuous tubular sleeve, and saidopposite sides of said body portion being spaced in generally opposingrelationship with one another.
 3. The protective device of claim 2, inwhich said fastening means includes a plurality of straps having firstand second ends, means for securing said first end of said straps tosaid body portion adjacent one of said opposite sides thereof, andreleasably securing means for securing said second ends of each of saidstraps to said outer surface of said body portion.
 4. The protectivedevice of claim 3, in which each of said straps includes and inner andouter surface, a first hook and loop fastening material mounted to saidouter surface of each of said straps adjacent said first end thereof anda second hook and loop fastening material mounted to said inner surfaceof each said straps adjacent said second ends thereof whereby said firstand second hook and loop fastening materials are selectively engageablewith one another.
 5. The protective device of claim 2, including amoisture impermeable coating on said inner and outer surfaces of saidbody portion.
 6. The protective device of claim 5, in which saidmaterial is selected from a group of materials consisting of natural andsynthetic spongy rubbers, foam and natural and synthetic fibers.
 7. Theprotective device of claim 6, in which material is substantially 3/4 ofan inch or greater in thickness.
 8. The protective device of claim 1,including an opening in said body portion spaced between said oppositesides and ends thereof through which an attaching element on the boommay extend when said body portion is mounted to the boom.
 9. Theprotective device of claim 1, in which said body portion includes firstand second sections having opposing inner surfaces for engaging theopposite sides of a boom therebetween, said inner and outer surfaces ofsaid body portions provided with a moisture impermeable layer.
 10. Theprotective device of claim 9, in which each of said inner surfaces ofsaid first and second sections is generally concave in configuration.11. The protective device of claim 9, in which material is substantially3/4 of an inch or greater in thickness.
 12. The protective device ofclaim 11, in which said material is selected from a group of materialsconsisting of natural and synthetic spongy rubbers, foam and natural andsynthetic fibers.
 13. The protective device of claim 1, in which saidbody portion includes first and second sections having opposing innersurfaces for engaging the opposite sides of a boom therebetween, andfastening means including first securing elements securable along theboom and second securing elements mounted to each of said first andsecond sections, said first and second securing elements beingengageable with one another to secure said first and second sections tothe boom.
 14. The protective device of claim 13, in which said firstsecuring elements include a pair of generally parallel hook and loopfastening material strips which may be mounted to the boom and saidsecond securing elements including second strips of hook and loopfastening materials.
 15. The protective device of claim 13, in whichmaterial is substantially 3/4 of an inch or greater in thickness. 16.The protective device of claim 15, in which said material is selectedfrom a group of materials consisting of natural and synthetic spongyrubbers, foam and natural and synthetic fibers.
 17. The protectivedevice of claim 2, in which said sleeve tapers inwardly from one endportion of said sleeve to the other.
 18. The protective device of claim1, in which said body portion is in the form of a generally pliablesheet, said fastening means including at least one first securing stripselectively positionable along the surface of the boom, and a pair ofsecond securing means extending along said inner face of said bodyportion adjacent each side thereof.
 19. The protective device of claim18, in which said inner and outer surface of said body portion areprovided with a moisture impermeable layer.
 20. The protective device ofclaim 19, in which said material is selected from a group of materialsconsisting of natural and synthetic spongy rubbers, foam and natural andsynthetic fibers.